I used to break Kbars like they were made of plastic, and have chipped the blades many times. I personally expect a lot from a knife, especially if my life is depending on it, and I tend to use them as much as tools as as for cutting. I tend toward a thicker knife made out of high carbon tool steel. There is a great deal of personal preference in how you use a knife, and you should find the one that works for how you will use it, and what you expect it to do. There are many that are great for a simple cutting edge, and the Kbar may be one of those. It does not have a full tang and tends to break at the tip and the hilt if used for prying. They bend easily as well.

My longest lasting knife is the Gerber BMF that I bought back in 1985. I also really liked the old Cold Steel Tanto, though it was not a good field blade shape. Durable knife though.

I now have a Daniel Winkler belt knife that I love, and another good one from TCT knives, made by a friend. Like I said, I am rough on knives and need one that I can abuse without fear of breaking. These meet my expectations, but are probably overkill for most people.